Trousers and method

ABSTRACT

The trousers comprise a centerline generally aligning with a centerline of a wearer&#39;s leg. The trousers comprise a diagonal upper seam, a diagonal lower seam, and a selvedge or straight grain outer seam. The diagonal upper seam extends downward from a position near an inside hip line to the centerline above the knee. The lower seam extends diagonally upward from the trouser bottom to the centerline above the knee. A method of forming trousers comprises the steps of providing a trouser blank, forming an improved trouser blank, and, using the improved trouser blank, forming a pair of trousers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to trousers and specifically to trousers in which the center line closely approximates the center line of the human leg from the thigh to ankle with both a pivoting and aligning method of forming the trousers.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Trousers (pants) generally comprise two tubes of material connected at the top. These tubes form the legs of the garment and the material at the top of each tube forms the hip area. In their simplest form, the tubes are each straight. However, the mature human leg is not. Rather, in a normal standing position, when viewed from the front, the thigh bone (femur) angles inward such that an upper thigh bone portion is positioned near an outside of the pelvis and a lower thigh bone portion is positioned at the knee. This angle, known as a bicondylar angle, is between eight (8) and fourteen (14) degrees in humans. The lower leg is, thus, not positioned directly below the femur in a normal standing position, when viewed from the front. In short, the thigh bones and lower leg bones are angled inward and backward with respect to the center of each thigh. Thus, the center line (“crease”) of the conventional pant leg aligns but cannot pivot with the center line of the lower leg. Unless an alteration is made, the pants will remain tubes contrary to the anatomy of the leg.

Tailors and fashion designers have accounted for the differences between the natural center lines of the upper and lower legs in a number of ways. The conventional ways of aligning the center lines involve breaking the outer seam. However, it is often desirable to maintain the integrity of the outer seam such as in the case of traditional blue jeans which comprise a selvedge outer seam. A selvedge seam is a self-finished edge of fabric that prevents the fabric from unraveling or fraying. Selvedge seams run parallel to the warp, the longitudinal threads extending along the length of the fabric. Denim jeans comprising selvedge edges are considered by many to be highly desirable. However, there is a need for a pair of jeans or other trousers comprising a selvedge edge, the jeans/trousers being better fitting and comprising a center of thigh line that pivots and aligns with the center of knee line.

The present disclosure provides a novel pair of trousers and method in which a two dimensional cutting of the pattern moving both the center of the pant leg to center of leg and providing a second dimensional move, a pivoting backward angle of the lower leg.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A novel pair of trousers and method are provided, the trousers comprising a centerline generally aligning with a centerline of a wearer's leg. The trousers comprise a diagonal upper seam, a diagonal lower seam, and a selvedge or straight grain outer seam. The diagonal upper seam extends downward from a position near an inside hip line to the centerline above the knee. The lower seam extends diagonally upward from the trouser bottom to the centerline above the knee.

The trouser blank used to form the trousers of the present disclosure comprises a selvedge outer seam. Prior to slits being made and material repositioned, the vertical center of the thigh line and vertical center of knee line are not aligned. The present disclosure provides a pair of trousers and method for forming same, in which these lines are more closely aligned as a result of one or more slits being formed in a garment blank and the fabric repositioned.

In one embodiment, an initial slit and a lower slit are formed. In other embodiments, an initial slit, a lower slit, and one or more intermediate slits are formed. When lower leg material adjacent to the lower slit is moved from a first lower leg material position to a second lower leg material position, upper leg material below the initial slit is moved from a first upper leg material position to a second upper leg material position. The upper leg material on either side of the initial slit can then be sewn to form a “dart”, or a fold in the fabric rather than the slit. These movements have the effect of moving the vertical knee center line to a position more aligned with the vertical thigh center line. Moreover, these changes also permit greater mobility and comfort for the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a prior art pair of trousers.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the trousers, in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a trouser blank comprising a selvedge edge, a vertical center of thigh line, a horizontal hip line, a horizontal knee line, and a vertical center of knee line.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the trouser blank of FIG. 3, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, showing the Initial cuts made to the blank.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the trouser blank of FIG. 4, depicting the initial cuts and positioning of fabric after the cuts, in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the trouser blank after material repositioning.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the trousers, in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2-7, there is shown the initial garment blank 8 (FIG. 3), an improved garment blank (FIGS. 4, 5, & 6), and trousers 12 formed from such blanks 8, in accordance with a preferred embodiment. As used herein, the terms “a” or “an” shall mean one or more than one. The term “plurality” shall mean two or more than two. The term “another” is defined as a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having” are open ended (e.g., comprising). The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means “any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment,” “certain embodiments,” “an embodiment,” or similar term means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner on one or more embodiments without limitation. The detailed description illustrates by way of example, not by way of limitation, the principles of the invention. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention.

General Overview

FIG. 1 depicts a conventional prior art pair of trousers with a crease line 17 comprising a lower crease line 17L, upper crease line 17U, and a conventional seam line 21. The crease line 17 of the conventional trousers generally runs parallel to the conventional seam line 21.

FIG. 2 depicts a novel pair of trousers 12 comprising fabric 10. The novel pair of trousers 12 results from a first movement of the lower crease line 17L to a vertical center of knee line 18 and a second movement of the lower crease line 17L towards the rear of the lower leg 25 to form a new lower crease line 17LN. When viewed from the front, the vertical center of knee line 18 is an imaginary vertical line that conceptually comprises the position on the fabric 10 at which, when assembled, approximately one half of the wearer's knee would be positioned on one lateral side, and the other half of the wearer's knee on the other lateral side.

Referring to FIG. 3, an initial garment blank 8 for the novel pair of trousers 12 is shown. In accordance with the present disclosure, the blank 8 comprises fabric 10, a selvedge outer seam 14, an upper edge 38, a crotch 24, an inner edge 34, and a lower edge 38. The blank 8 further comprises a vertical center of thigh line 16, the vertical center of knee line 18, a horizontal knee line 20, and a horizontal hip line 22. The vertical center of thigh line 16 is an imaginary line that, when viewed from the front, conceptually comprises the position on the fabric 10 at which approximately one half of a wearer's thigh would be positioned on one lateral side, and the other half of the wearer's thigh on the other lateral side.

In the preferred embodiment, the fabric 10 is denim. However, the fabric 10 need not be denim. Rather, the fabric 10 may be duck or other suitable weave and may be formed from cotton, wool, synthetic fibers, or other conventional and commercially available material.

As may be seen in FIGS. 3-5, the vertical center of thigh line 16 and vertical center of knee line 18 are not aligned. As may be seen in FIG. 1, in a conventional pair of pants, the crease line 17 is vertical the entire length of the pants and generally parallel to the conventional seam line 21. This configuration results in undesirable gatherings 19 in the fabric 10.

Referring to FIG. 4, in order to more closely align the vertical center of thigh line 16 and vertical center of knee line 18, and to cause the crease line 17 and selvedge seam 14 to more closely approximate the backward angle of the leg 23, one or more slits 26, 28, 30 a, 30 b are formed such that the fabric 10 may be repositioned. In the preferred embodiment, an initial slit 26 is cut on the crotch 24 side of the blank 8 and extends downwardly from a juncture 32 of the crotch 24 and inner edge 34 to the vertical center of thigh line 16 at a position approximately ¾ of the way down from the horizontal hip line 22. As may be seen in FIG. 4, in the preferred embodiment, a lower slit 28 extends from a lower edge 38 position approximately midway between the inner edge 34 and the vertical center of knee line 18 to a position on the vertical center of knee line 18 approximately midway between the lower edge 38 and the horizontal knee line 20.

Although in the preferred embodiment, the initial slit 26 extends from the juncture 32 of the crotch 24 and inner edge 34 to the vertical center of thigh line 16 at the position approximately ¾ of the way down from the horizontal hip line 22, and the lower slit 28 extends from the lower edge 38 position approximately midway between the inner edge 34 and the vertical center of knee line 18 to a position on the vertical center of knee line 18 approximately midway between the lower edge 38 and the horizontal knee line 20, the initial and lower slits 26, 28 may begin and end at different positions without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. For example, the initial slit 26 may begin at a position closer to the horizontal knee line 20 and extend at a different angle to a position further from the vertical center of thigh line 16. The lower slit 28 may begin nearer or further from the inner edge 34 and extend at a different angle to a position further from the vertical center of knee line 18.

In some embodiments one or more intermediate slits 30 a, 30 b may be formed. In one embodiment, a lower intermediate slit 30 a extends upwardly at an angle from an end of the lower slit 28 to a position approximately ¾ of the way between the lower edge 38 and horizontal knee line 20. In one embodiment, an upper intermediate slit 30 b extends downwardly at an angle from an end of the initial slit 26 to a position approximately ¾ of the way between the horizontal hip line 22 and horizontal knee line 20.

Referring to FIG. 5, after the one or more slits 26, 28, 30 a, 30 b are formed, lower slit material 46 on the crotch 24 side of the lower slit 28 is repositioned from a first position 40 to a second position 42 (defined by the lower diagonal line 42). In some embodiments, central material 48 between positions 40 and 42 may be removed. In some embodiments, the central material 48 is folded to form a dart. Whether the central material 48 between positions 40 and 42 is removed or folded, the lower slit material 46 is secured to selvedge side material 50 in a conventional manner such as with stitching.

Referring to FIG. 6, the movement of the lower slit material 48 from the first position 40 to the second position 42 results in the vertical center of knee line 18 being moved to a resulting vertical center of lower leg line 44. As may be seen in FIG. 6, such vertical center of lower leg line 44 is more closely aligned with the vertical center of thigh line 16. Referring to FIG. 7, when worn by the wearer, the vertical center of thigh line 16 generally aligns with the vertical center of a wearer's thigh and the vertical center of lower leg line 44 generally aligns with the vertical center of a wearer's lower leg.

Referring again to FIG. 5, after the lower slit material 46 is moved from the first position 40 to the second position 42, initial slit material 52 is repositioned from a first position 54 to a second position 56 (defined by the upper diagonal line 56). In the preferred embodiment initial central material 58 between positions 54 and 56 is folded into a seam comprising a diagonal seam 57 comprising a dart 62 (FIG. 7). In other embodiments, the initial central material 58 is removed. Whether the initial central material 58 between positions 54 and 56 is removed or folded, initial slit material 52 is secured to inner edge material 60 in a conventional manner such as with stitching.

Referring to FIG. 7, the blank 8, as modified in the manner discussed herein, is then used to form a pair of trousers 12 comprising a diagonal upper seam 57 and a vertical lower seam 45. The modified blank 8 may be sewn together with a similarly modified blank 8 to form the front and back of a pants leg. The pants leg may be coupled with a similarly formed pants leg to form the pants of a pair of trousers 12. The modified blank 8 may be sewn to an unmodified blank 8 or blank 8 modified in a different manner than that described herein. A zipper 64, waist band 66, belt loops 68, button 70, pocket 72, and other finishing elements found in conventional trousers may be added to form the trousers 12.

The method of making trousers 12 comprises the steps of providing a garment blank 8, the blank 8 comprising fabric 10, a selvedge outer seam 14, an upper edge 36, a crotch 24, an inner edge 34, and a lower edge 38; the blank 8 further comprising vertical center of thigh line 16, vertical center of knee line 18, horizontal knee line 20, and horizontal hip line 22; making an initial slit 26 extending from a juncture 32 of the crotch 24 and inner edge 34 to the vertical center of thigh line 16; making a lower slit 28 extending from a lower edge 38 position approximately midway between the inner edge 34 and the vertical center of knee line 18 to a position on the vertical center of knee line 18 approximately midway between the lower edge 38 and the horizontal knee line 20; after making the initial and lower slits 26, 28, repositioning lower slit material 46 from a first position 40 to a second position 42; securing the lower slit material 46 to selvedge side material 50; after the lower slit material 46 is moved from the first position 40 to the second position 42, repositioning the initial slit material 52 from a first position 54 to a second position 56; forming a seam 57 which may comprise a dart with the initial slit material 52; using the modified blank 8 to form a pair of trouser comprising an unbroken selvedge edge 14.

In some embodiments of the method, one or more intermediate slits 30 a, 30 b are formed. In one embodiment of the method, a lower intermediate slit 30 a extends upwardly at an angle from an end of the lower slit 28 to a position approximately ¾ of the way between the lower edge 38 and horizontal knee line 20. In one embodiment, of the method, an upper intermediate slit 30 b extends downwardly at an angle from an end of the initial slit 26 to a position approximately ¾ of the way between the horizontal hip line 22 and horizontal knee line 20.

In some embodiments of the method, central material 48 between positions 40 and 42 is removed. In some embodiments, the central material 48 is folded to form a dart.

In some embodiments of the method, the initial central material 58 is removed.

While there has been illustrated and described what is, at present, considered to be a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that this invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure. 

I claim:
 1. Trousers comprising: first and second pant legs; each of said pant legs comprising a selvedge seam, a vertical center of thigh line, a vertical center of lower leg line, a diagonal upper seam, and a vertical lower seam; the vertical center of thigh line generally aligning with a vertical center of a wearer's thigh, when the trousers are worn by the wearer; and the vertical center of lower leg line and vertical lower seam each generally aligning with a vertical center of a wearer's lower leg, when the trousers are worn by the wearer.
 2. The trousers of claim 1 wherein each of said pant legs comprises an upper portion, a horizontal hipline, and a horizontal knee line; the upper portion being defined by the horizontal hipline, a crotch portion, an upper portion of the selvedge seam, and an upper edge; the diagonal upper seam extending downward from a first position to a second position; the first position being proximate to an intersection of the horizontal hipline and the crotch portion; and the second position being proximate to an intersection of the vertical center of thigh line and a point above the horizontal knee line.
 3. The trousers of claim 2 wherein the vertical lower seam extends upward from a lower edge along the vertical center of lower leg line.
 4. The trousers of claim 3 wherein the vertical lower seam extends to a position approximately mid-way between the horizontal knee line and the lower edge.
 5. A method of creating an improved trouser blank, the method comprising the steps of: providing a trouser blank comprising a selvedge seam, a vertical center of thigh line, a vertical center of knee line, a horizontal knee line, a horizontal hip line, a crotch portion, an upper diagonal line, a lower diagonal line, and upper, lower, and inner edges; the vertical center of knee line being positioned between the vertical center of thigh line and the selvedge seam; cutting an upper slit, the upper slit extending downward from a position proximate to an intersection of the horizontal hipline and the crotch portion to an upper slit endpoint position; the upper slit endpoint position being a position proximate to an intersection of the vertical center of thigh line and a point above the horizontal knee line; cutting a lower slit, the lower slit extending upward from the lower edge, across the vertical center of thigh line, to a lower slit endpoint position, the lower slit endpoint position being proximate to an intersection of the vertical center of knee line and a point approximately midway between the lower edge and the horizontal knee line; the upper slit defining crotch side material and upper inner edge material, the crotch side material being material between the upper slit and the upper edge, the Inner edge material being material between the upper slit and an upper portion of the inner edge, the lower slit defining selvedge side material and lower inner edge material, the selvedge side material being material between the lower slit and the selvedge edge, the lower inner edge material being material between the lower slit and a lower portion of the inner edge; the lower inner edge material comprising a lower inner edge material border, the lower inner edge material border having been defined by the lower slit; the crotch side material comprising a crotch side material border, the crotch side material border having been defined by the upper slit; the upper diagonal line extending from the inner edge to the upper slit endpoint position; the lower diagonal line extending from the lower edge to the lower slit endpoint position; coupling the lower inner edge material border to material defined by the lower diagonal line; and coupling the crotch side material border to material defined by the upper diagonal line.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein, prior to the step of coupling the lower inner edge material border to material defined by the lower diagonal line, the method comprises the step of: removing a portion of material between the lower diagonal line and the lower inner edge material border.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of: cutting an upper angled slit, the upper angled slit angling towards the selvedge edge from the upper diagonal slit endpoint to the horizontal knee line.
 8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of: cutting a lower vertical slit, the lower vertical slit angling towards the crotch portion from the lower diagonal slit endpoint to a position approximately midway between the lower diagonal slit endpoint and the horizontal knee line.
 9. A method of forming trousers, the method comprising the steps of: providing a trouser blank, the trouser blank comprising a selvedge seam, a vertical center of thigh line, a vertical center of knee line, a horizontal knee line, a horizontal hip line, a crotch portion, an upper diagonal line, a lower diagonal line, and upper, lower, and inner edges; the vertical center of knee line being positioned between the vertical center of thigh line and the selvedge seam; using the trouser blank, forming an improved trouser blank; the step of forming the improved trouser blank comprising the sub-steps of: cutting an upper slit, the upper slit extending downward from a position proximate to an intersection of the horizontal hipline and the crotch portion to an upper slit endpoint position; the upper slit endpoint position being a position proximate to an intersection of the vertical center of thigh line and a point above the horizontal knee line; cutting a lower slit, the lower slit extending upward from the lower edge, across the vertical center of thigh line, to a lower slit endpoint position, the lower slit endpoint position being proximate to an intersection of the vertical center of knee line and a point approximately midway between the lower edge and the horizontal knee line; the upper slit defining crotch side material and upper inner edge material, the crotch side material being material between the upper slit and the upper edge, the inner edge material being material between the upper slit and an upper portion of the inner edge; the lower slit defining selvedge side material and lower inner edge material, the selvedge side material being material between the lower slit and the selvedge edge, the lower inner edge material being material between the lower slit and a lower portion of the inner edge; the lower inner edge material comprising a lower inner edge material border, the lower inner edge material border having been defined by the lower slit; the crotch side material comprising a crotch side material border, the crotch side material border having been defined by the upper slit; the upper diagonal line extending from the inner edge to the upper slit endpoint position; the lower diagonal line extending from the lower edge to the lower slit endpoint position; coupling the lower inner edge material border to material defined by the lower diagonal line; coupling the crotch side material border to material defined by the upper diagonal line; and using the improved trouser blank, forming a pair of trousers.
 10. The method of claim 9, prior to the sub-step of coupling the lower inner edge material border to material defined by the lower diagonal line, the sub step of: removing a portion of material between the lower diagonal line and the lower inner edge material border.
 11. The method of claim 9, the step of forming the improved trouser blank further comprising the sub-step of: cutting an upper angled slit, the upper angled slit angling towards the selvedge edge from the upper diagonal slit endpoint to the horizontal knee line.
 12. The method of claim 9, the step of forming the improved trouser blank further comprising the sub-step of: cutting a lower vertical slit, the lower vertical slit angling towards the crotch portion from the lower diagonal slit endpoint to a position approximately midway between the lower diagonal slit endpoint and the horizontal knee line.
 13. The method of claim 9, the step of forming the improved trouser blank further comprising the sub-steps of: cutting an upper angled slit, the upper angled slit angling towards the selvedge edge from the upper diagonal slit endpoint to the horizontal knee line; and cutting a lower vertical slit, the lower vertical slit angling towards the crotch portion from the lower diagonal slit endpoint to a position approximately midway between the lower diagonal slit endpoint and the horizontal knee line. 